Basic defensive errors and a failure to take chances while on top in the Premier League are an awful combination.

But Newcastle United have picked up both of those bad habits - and that's why they start 2016 as one of the favourites to be relegated.

Steve McClaren’s side are currently serving up a brand of football that is both unattractive and ineffective.

Make no mistake, the Magpies are in deep trouble.

And the fact they probably should have had a penalty and also hit the woodwork at the Hawthorns does not alter the fact they are staring the prospect of playing Championship football next season firmly in the face.

They either need to start spending in the January transfer window or get their act together on the field.

They may be battling harder than they were earlier in 2015, but unfortunately it’s still not good enough.

Just take a look at the history books. Back in 2013 when Newcastle just scraped to safety with a game to go they had three more points than now. And in 2009 when they failed to avoid the drop they had five more points in the bank.

With games to come at Arsenal and then at home to Manchester United they are in danger of being cut adrift from some of their relegation rivals.

The Magpies briefly flirted with the idea of earning a narrow win at West Brom.

They made a rocky start to the clash at the Hawthorns after Victor Anichebe’s scuffed shot needed to be cleared off the line by Fabricio Coloccini.

United were then grateful to Karl Darlow after he made a flying save to push away James Morrison’s effort on 10 minutes.

The Magpies responded when Ayoze Perez won the ball to play in Sissoko just outside the penalty area before the French international made a bustling run into the West Brom box, only to be denied by Gareth McAuley’s sliding tackle.

It was a missed opportunity that Newcastle would live to regret.

West Brom keeper Bo Myhill was then called into action as he kept out Gini Wijnaldum’s powerful strike with a fine save with 13 minutes played.

With 19 minutes gone it was Perez’s turn to test Albion but his curling effort was high and wide.

Moments later Morrison sent another effort wide of Darlow’s left hand post.

Just before the half hour mark Vurnon Anita went down in a heap after a challenge with Victor Anichebe.

Anita went off clutching the back of his leg and the injury handed Cheick Tiote his chance back on the Premier League stage.

West Brom finished the first half looking like the stronger of the two teams.

Efforts from Claudio Yacob and Darren Fletcher did not trouble Darlow but Craig Gardner’s free-kick right at the end of the half was deflected over the bar by Perez.

The two sides went in level at the break with Newcastle sustaining the pressure from the home side.

But 10 minutes into the second half United started to pose some questions of their own.

Paul Dummett won a corner on the left-hand side of the field before Perez whipped the set-piece to the back post with the Geordie defender directing a header off the bar.

The Baggies struggled to clear and Myhill tipped Coloccini’s follow-up off the post.

Just after the hour mark Newcastle cranked up the pressure on West Brom.

Mitrovic poked a shot over the bar via a deflection off Chris Brunt with the Serbian international also feeling he was pulled back by Jonny Evans.

TV replays suggested United should have had their first spot-kick for over a year.

However, West Brom went on to take the points.

Darlow was clearly enduring some nerves on his debut and this was underlined with 15 minutes to go when he sliced a routine clearance out for a corner from Chancel Mbemba’s back-pass.

The resultant corner saw West Brom sub Saido Berahino send a header crashing off the bar before Newcastle frantically cleared the danger.

But with 12 minutes left Darlow wasn’t so lucky.

Yacob clipped in a right wing cross and Fletcher rose high to head it past Darlow with the keeper unable to get enough on it to keep it out.

The ex-Nottingham Forest keeper made a couple of late saves to deny Sadio Berahino and Anichebe but Newcastle failed to muster a response at the other end.